Stuck in Pakistan: Afghans Take Legal Action to Avoid Deportation to Dangerous Afghanistan
Pakistani authorities have warned Afghans living in the country that they could be forced to return to their homeland.
A group of Afghan refugees, currently residing in Pakistan, find themselves in a precarious situation. Around 2400 of them have been granted admission to Germany, but due to a suspension of admissions, they are now at risk of being sent back to an Afghanistan ruled by the Taliban.
Lawyers in Berlin have taken the matter into their hands, filing 25 lawsuits with the Berlin Administrative Court to secure the entry of at least some of these refugees to Germany.
At the heart of this situation is Mr. Hosseini (name changed), who was offered admission to Germany by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees back in February 2024. However, after a security interview, his admission was seemingly withdrawn without explanation. Now, he lives in a small room in Islamabad with dwindling savings.
The new German government suspended all admission programs after taking office in May, leading to the current predicament. Around half of the affected Afghans have reportedly completed all security checks, but the escalating conflict between Pakistan and India has caused the withdrawal of German staff responsible for these checks in Islamabad.
Critics argue that the security screenings in Islamabad are politically motivated, focusing on irrelevant issues such as opinions on Gaza and Ukraine rather than Afghan security concerns. Conversely, German authorities defend these measures as necessary confidential security measures.
Asylum processes in Germany are under strain, with average processing times increasing and appeals surging. This adds another layer of complexity to the issue, as these Afghans face a high risk of being forced to return to Afghanistan, where the situation remains perilous.
The lawsuits in Berlin aim to challenge the suspension and withdrawal policies and protect these refugees from being stranded in Pakistan and subsequently deported to an unsafe environment. However, the outcome of these legal proceedings is uncertain.
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- Refugees
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- Pakistan
- Taliban
Further Reading:
- Struggling Through the Interview Lines: Germany's Controversial Security Screenings in Pakistan
- Appealing for a Safer Tomorrow: Record High Number of Asylum Appeals in Germany
- The Perilous Journey of Afghan Refugees: Stranded in Pakistan, Facing Uncertain Futures
- The ongoing legal action in Berlin, aimed at securing the entry of Afghans stranded in Pakistan, is a critical community policy matter, as these refugees seek to escape the dangerous reality of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
- The political climate surrounding the security screenings in Pakistan, with repeated allegations of irrelevance and mockery, significantly impacts the general-news narrative surrounding the employment policy of admissions for Afghan refugees in Germany.
